Henrik Ibsen‘s classic play The Wild Duck is reinvented for a modern time, and with a modern style. The evergreen issues that underline the story stand out even more because of the new face it presents. This production oozes with intelligence, beauty and guts – a slow burner, but a show bobbing on a sea of its own questions. It is ...
A romp through the Regency and a tryst with the Tudors; reveling in the salacious, unseen and tumultuous lives of the queer folk of the past and present has never been so much fun. “Lord” George Hicks and Josh Cockcroft’s innovative, highly amusing and utterly arch tale of gay history has an understandably esoteric audience spellbound. But never fear, those who ...
Doilies and deception, surveillance in the 60’s, and more cups of tea than the Great British Bake Off. Pack of Lies is a moving play based on a true story, focusing on the way political turmoil and distrust can poison a seemingly perfect suburban friendship. Deep within the tunnels of the Menier Chocolate Factory, we suddenly emerged into a full ...
Moving sheets billow, and the waves begin to look as although they are dancing as we stare out to sea. So the stage is set for this nautical themed dance piece set in a far-flung lighthouse. But as always with matters close to tide, there is more than just fog in this story. Point of Echoes treads that difficult line ...
“I am here to repair”, calls out our lead, surrounded by the sun-drenched desert. His story is entrapped by its own ideas, aesthetically interesting, but thematically stunted. The Prisoner is a strange fairy tale with an uncertain didactic message and a pace that confounds logic. Written by the legendary Peter Brook and Marie-Helene Estienne, and with stars such as Donald Sumpter, ...
Lip gloss and murder, a deadly concoction. One that Heathers brews up with camp, infections and gleeful enjoyment. The adaptation of the cult classic ‘80s film zips with wit, humour and some knockout performances. It is both original and unexpected. With this mix of sickly sweet and sour, the musical only loses a small amount of the film’s telling irony, ...
A life dreamed of, yet built using sand that can be easily crumbled into the sea. With Fabric, we have an insight into a story far too familiar and a fate far too common. The issues discussed are ever-present, but what I am most interested in is does a gripping subject matter make a good play? Do good intentions create ...
All singing (except without the singing), all-dancing (except without the dancing), Dust is a show that has its hands tightly around your heart and won’t let go. Depending on your emotional stability, that’s a good thing. Never have I seen a more effective, irreverent and igniting one-woman show, never have I seen a show speak about mental health with more intelligence, ...
Memories of sticks of rock and walks along the pier are quickly smashed as Caterpillarputs its well-written fist through all of our fond seaside memories. This play is hard going; spinning with unstoppable precision, it covers a wide range of topics with as much grace as could be imagined. We are introduced to Claire and her mother Maeve in their ...
A bed very similar to Tracey Emin’s famous squalid art show greets us as we crowd into the basement theatre at the Cecil Sharp house to watch Freak by The Herd. Despite the low-fi feel of the space and the warbling echoes of the choir rehearsing above, the show is captivating, darkly moving and funny. With a few knock-out performances ...